A specialised website of the Multicultural Centre Prague for critical discussion about migration in Central and Eastern Europe. It maps migration reality, research and policy, offers a range of articles, interviews and reports and promotes debate among experts, public administrators, NGOs and the wider public.

Migrants take away our jobs! Really?

My name is Elena and I have been living in Prague for 7 years now. There are many Czechs and migrants among my friends. I often hear an opinion that migrants take away Czechs' jobs. Is it really the case? Or are we just talking about a fair competition? I discussed this topic with Rasul Radžab account manager from Azerbaijan.

Rasul, you come from Azerbaijan. Did you move from your
homeland straight to Prague? Or did you live in other places as well?

A part of my family lives in Norway where I spent few years
at high school. Then I returned to Baku where I gained my bachelor's degree in
finance and loans. Later, as a specialist with diploma, I arrived to Prague.

Have you ever used your diploma at work? Or are you doing
something different from what you studied?

I use the knowledge I gained at school at my work as well as
in everyday life. However, great advantage I have is the knowledge of
languages. I can speak Norwegian and Azerbaijani. Both of them are relatively
in demand and not many people can speak them. Naturally, I also speak English,
Czech and Russian.

I tried various jobs, such as marketing and financial
consultancy. I found out that I enjoy the position of an account manager the
most. In practice it means that I maintain relationships with our regular
clients. I am really good at it and I really enjoy it which is important.

You are a happy person who loves his work! What qualities
are important for a person who wants to do a job like yours?

Currently I work for the East European region. That is why I
have to be able to communicate in a language that is spoken in these countries.
That is mainly Russian. The company is international and the internal
communication is in English. So you have to know languages. When I say “know” I
mean the perfect command of the language. You have to be able to make jokes, to
know the informal expressions and to react swiftly in the conversation.

There is, however, another aspect that cannot be learned. It
is the knowledge of mentality of the nation. That is the customs, social life,
behaviour patterns, values and other details that cannot be described. You have
to have it in your blood; you have to come from there.

Are you telling me that a Czech person would not be able to
do such job?

I am not saying that he could not. But I think that he would
be less successful than anyone from the Eastern region. You know – when we talk
about clients, we talk about personalities. Every one of them is different and
so are the approaches they need. This is not about ciphers; the voice that
speaks to them does matter. They can sense nervousness, insecurity in your
voice and they can take advantage of it when it comes to bargaining. It is
advantageous for the company to employ someone who feels among foreigners – as
we say in a Russian proverb – like a fish in water.

So you are a perfect candidate for the position of an
account manager. You have everything necessary: knowledge, background, personal
qualities. Was it easy to find a job?

Finding a job is challenging. Everyone who has ever looked
for job knows how difficult it is to find something that suits him. I passed this
stage. However, I have to say that I fought obstacles on different stages.

The red tape is everywhere in the Czech Republic. To obtain a
work permit from the alien police? If you manage it you are a hero! Loads of
forms, waiting, queues, forms and waiting again.

The official policy complicates its own work. Imagine a
situation when an employer is willing to employ you and you also want to work
for his company. But both of you are forced to wait for two or three months
because there is a lot of bureaucracy. A project cannot wait for such a long
time. This is nonsense.

Recently foreign affairs issues were moved under the
competence of the Ministry of the Interior. It should have made the processes
easier.

It should, but obviously the changes were not effective. The
reason for them was the necessity to repress corruption in the alien police.
Corruption, as we all know, did not disappear. Instead we have a lot of young
workers who do not have experience, practice, and nobody to give them advice.

I was even in a situation when I had to give advice to a
worker behind the counter, because she did not know where to look for a law
concerning permissions I needed. It will take years before they begin to understand
this a bit.

How did you persuade the employer that he should wait for
you a couple of months?

I did not even try. I understand that it is absurd - they
have their commissions now and they need someone to work on them.

I always offered a different solution, I have a trade
licence. Fortunately, I have a few income sources; that is why it is all right
from the point of view of the law. I pay taxes and I pay the health and social
insurance as well. It is a compromise that I have to accept if I want to work
in the Czech Republic.

Rasul, do you like Prague?

Yes, that is why I have lived here for so many years. I love
Prague; I like the atmosphere it has. There is not a country with an ideal
system and every country has its cons. In Prague, the pros prevail. It is my
home.

This article is one of the migrants’ contributions to the
project Migration to the Centre and was created with the cooperation of the People
in Need.

The article has been written with support of the Europe for
Citizens Programme of the European Union and the International Visegrad Fund.
The article reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be
held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained
therein.